My Johnson has no get up and go!!!

[flykr2s]

MOdel 115ESL73 which is a 1973 115 hp. Problem is when I put engine in gear, forward or reverse, it dies. I have done the following: rebuilt carbs, replaced fuel pump, replaced power pack, installed new plugs, checked for spark on all four plugs, checked carb linkages, checked choke set up and checked timing for TDC. Now here is the strange part: If I disconnect the spark plug wires on the bottom two cylinders, the engine will start and idle on the top two cylinders. If I disconnect the plug wires from the top two cylinders the engine will not start or idle on the bottom cylinders even with spark on those plugs. I am not sure how strong the spark is on the bottom cylinders only that there is spark there. HELP PLEASE if you can. Thanks, Mark

 

[22WRF]

Re: My Johnson has no get up and go!!!

Time to take a look at the lower 2 carbs and see if they are getting fuel.<br />Take screw out of the float bowl and see if anything comes out.<br /><br />If you do then your going to have to look for plugged jets next.<br /><br />Your have spark so fuel (lack of) is the next likley cause

 

[jim dozier]

Re: My Johnson has no get up and go!!!

Try squirting some premix into the bottom 2 carb throats and see if it picks up. If it does you aren't getting fuel to those cylinders. If is doesn't you may want to reexamine the spark on those cylinders. My bet is you need to redo the carbs on those 2 cylinders, I think you missed something. If it won't idle in gear it isn't idling right. As you have demonstrated it will idle in neutral on only 2 cylinders and that ain't right.

 

[flykr2s]

Re: My Johnson has no get up and go!!!

Thanks LCM-8 your suggestion to search out fuel making it to the bottom carb paid off. I had replaced the fuel lines and apparantly they were inferior as they became soft and sagged downward causing the bottom line to crimp shutting off fuel supply to the two bottom cylinders. Thanks

 

[flykr2s]

Re: My Johnson has no get up and go!!!

Thanks jimd, you are also correct in thinking it was a fuel starvation problem. You guys ROCK.